Head movement for a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal



Feb. 21, 1933. MESSMORE 1,898,587

HEAD MOVEMENT FOR A DEVICE SIMULAI'ING A DINOSAUR OR OTHER ANIMAL Filed July 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l IMVENTOR BY Gem gefi 85527022 0 TTORNE Feb. 21, 1933.

H. MESSMORE 1,898,587

HEAD MOVEMENT FOR A DEVICE SIMULATING A DINOSAUR OR OTHER ANIMAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1931 'INVENTOR BY Gazge fiflessmore Patented Feb. 21, 1933 warren STATES PATENT orricE GEORGE E. MESSMORE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HEAD MOVEMENT FOR A nnvron SIMULATING A DINOSAUR onornnn ANIMAL Application filed July 24, 1931. Serial No. 552,885

This inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in a head movement for a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal for stage purposes.

The invention has for an object the con struction of a head movement which is characterized by the ability to move in all directions and capable of movements simulating the natural cords within the neck of an animal.

The invention proposes that the device be constructed of full or of miniature size. It is intended that a person control the movements of the head to provide amusement.

The invention has for a still further'object the construction of a hollow body with a hollow neck made from some flexible material and supporting a head, and a plurality of substantially transverse ring-shaped ribs 2 within the neck capable of assuming distorted conditions under stress.

As another object of'this invention it is proposed to provide means for bending said transverse ring-shaped ribs into positions to simulate the moving cords inan animals neck. V

Furthermore, it is proposed to provide a shaft extending through the hollow neck and connected at one end with the head and at the other end being universally supported so that the head may be moved in all directions.

Another one of the objects of this invention is to'construct the shaft of sections which may be universally relative to each other for the purpose of bending the neck at various points.

Furthermore, it is proposed to provide a moveable jaw upon the head of said device arranged for holding a dancer so that the dancer may be lifted up by the animal for,

entertaining purposes.

The invention still further proposes the construction of a device of the class mentioned which is of simple, durable construction, dependable in use and efficient in action and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be'had to the appended claims in which the various novel features-of theinvention-are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure Fig. 1 is a plan View of a device simulating a dinosaur and constructed according to this invention. I Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of Fig. '1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional viewv of the neck of the animal. 7'

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of'Fig. 4. l I Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view shown in section of a portion of Fig. 4, particularly the junction of the shaft sectionswhich extend through the neck of the device.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-'Z' of Fig. 6. V Fig. Sis asectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the standard which supports the shaft extending through the neck of the device. 7

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but illustrating a modification. i

The animal to whichthe invention is applied in this specification is in the form of a dinosaur. Numeral 10 indicates the body which is supported by legs 11. .At the rear, the body is provided with a tail 12, andat the front with a neck 13 supporting a head 14;. The body 10 is hollow and'a person may enter therein through a door 15. The neck 13 also is hollow and is made from flexible covering material 16 held in shape by a plu rality of transverse substantially ringshaped ribs 17. The head 14 has a lower jaw 18 whichis pivotally supported at 19 so that.

it may open and close.

A rigid shaft 20 isun'iversally supported P upon a standard 21 within the hollow body. The other end of this shaft connects with a flange 22 attached upon the head 14. This shaft serves'to rigidly hold the neck of'the device. The standard 21 has a top cap 23 a which holds down a ball 24constituting' the 109 universal joint. This allows the head to be moved in all directions. A counterweight is attached upon the shaft for the purpose of counter-balancing the head and the neck to make it easy for a person to move.

The shaft 20 is made from sections which are universally connected at the point 26 in the center of v the neck 13. The universal joint is formed by pivotally connecting one shaft section, indicated on the drawings by reference numeral 20% with a link 27 so that the section may move in ahorizontal plane. In turn, the link ,27 is pivotally connectec with the other shaft sect-ion, indicated by reference numeral 20", in a manner so that it may move in the vertical.

Theshaft sections 20 and 20 may assume various angular positions controllable from within the body 10 by the person operating the device. For this purpose a pintle 28 is rigidly attached upon the shaft section 20 and freely extends through the link 27. This pintle carries a drum 29 upon which a cord 30 is wound. This cord extends to the body 10 and its ends are attached upon brackets 31 for the purpose of holding the pivotal connection in a stationary position. A second pintle 32 is rigidly attached upon the. link 27 and is free in the shaft section 20 and carries a drum 33. A cable 34: is wound over this drum and extends within the body 10. The ends of this cable are also attached upon brackets 31. A sleeve is freely mounted upon the shaft section 20" and a second sleeve 36 upon the shaft section 20. These sleeves are connected for untary motion by an intermission cable 37.

This cable 37 has a pin 38 extending transversely through one of its ends and into the sleeve passing through a transverse slot 38 in the. shaft section 20. The cable extends into a coaxial recess 39 in the shaft section 20"- The cable 37 then passes to a recess in the shaft section 20 and is there provided with another pin 40 transversely arranged I and extending into a longitudinal slot 41 in the sleeve section 36. The pin 40 also passes through a transverse slot -12 in the'shaft section 20. The construction is such that when the sleeve 35 isturned, the rotation will be transmitted by the cable 37 to correspondingly turn the sleeve 36.

A hand wheel 43 is fixed upon the sleeve 35 and is located within the body 10. A plurality of radial arms 44: project at spaced intervals from the sleeves 35 and 36 and pivotally connect with brackets 45 which in turn are pivotally connected at their top ends 16 upon the tops of the ribs 17 The brackets 45 have lateral projecting portions 47 which do not touch the sides of the ribs 17 but come quite close. tot-hem. As the sleeves are turned one way or the other, the radial arms v 4% will be correspondingly movedand cause pivoting ofthe brackets 45 drawings since it forms no part of this invention. The dot and dash lines 50 indi cate various moved positions of the head of the device. All of these motions are possible by the mechanism which has been described.

A lever 51 is fixed upon the lower jaw 18 of the device and connects with cables 52 which extend to a drum 53 which is rotatively mounted on a standard 54 within the body 10.- A handle 55 connects with the drum for the purpose of turning it. A plurality of teeth 56 are formed upon the drum and areengaged by a spring pressed pawl 57 for the purpose of holding the drum in various stationary positions. This arrangement allows the body to be opened and closed by. manually lifting off the pawl 57 and. turing ahandle 55. A dancer, indicated by the dot and dash lines 58, may be lifted up by the animal for the amusement of the crowd.

The neck of the animal may be moved universally either by manually moving of the counterweight 25 or by the provision of mechanical means. For moving the weight 25 mechanically, a cable 59 has a hook 60 on its, end for engagement in various openings 61 in the weight 25. This cable may be extended over one or another of a plurality of stationary hooks 62 mounted within the body: 10. The cable is wound upon the drum 63 connected with a gear reduction system 64 and with a motor 65.

In Fig. 10, a modified form of standard similar to the standard 21 has been disclosed for'universally supporting the shaft 20. This standard pivot-ally supports a counterweight 66 at 67. This counterweight is adapted to swing in a vertical plane. The shaft 20 pivotally connects at 68 with an extension from the counterweight and is adapted to swing in a horizontal plane. This construction provides a universal arrangement whereby the shaft 20 may assume various positions for correspondingly moving the head.

In operation, a person is hid within the body 10 and provides the amusement for the crowd outside. The head of the animal will be moved in various directions by pivoting the shaft 20 as desired. During this pivoting, the hand wheel 43 may be turned to causethe sleeves 35 and 36 to move correspondingly and pivot thebrackets. 45. to.

bulge out and distort the neck simulating moving cords in the animals neck. The neck may be bent atintermediate points by loosening the cables 30 and 34 from their brackets 31 and slightly move them so as to cause pivoting of the universal joint between the shaft sections 20 and 20.

'While .I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do notlim'it myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and'the right is reserved to all changes and modifications comingwithin the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Having thus described my'invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. A head movement for a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal, comprising a hollow body with a hollow neck having flexible material and connected with a head, a plurality of substantially transverse ringshaped ribs attached within the flexible material of the neck, a rigid shaft extending through the neck and attached at one end upon the head of the animal and atthe other end being universally supported, means for universally supporting the last mentioned end of said shaft, a. sleeve on said 'sha-ft, radial arms projecting from said sleeve, brackets pivotally connected Within said ring-shaped ribs and having projecting portions terminating adjacent other portions of said ribs, and said brackets being pivotally connected with said radial arms.

2. A head movement for a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal, comprising a hollow body with a hollow neck having flexible material and connected with a head, a plurality of substantially transverseringshaped ribs attached within the flexible niaterial of the neck, a rigid shaft extending through the neck and attached at one end upon the head of the animal and at the other end being universally supported, means for,

universally supporting the last mentioned end of said shaft, a sleeve on said shaft, radial arms projecting from said sleeve, brackets pivotally connected within said ring-shaped ribs and having projecting portions terminating adjacent other portions of said ribs, and said brackets being pivotally connected with said radial arms, said means for universally supporting said shaftcomprises a standard, and a ball member on the shaft disposed between a cap and standard.

3. A head movement for a device simulat ing a dinosaur or other animal, comprising a hollow body with a hollow neck having flexible material and connected with a head, a plurality of substantially transverse ringshaped ribs attached within the flexible ma terial of the neck, a rigid shaft extending .through the neck and attached at one end upon the head of the animal and at the other end being universally supported, means for universally supporting the last mentioned end of said shaft, a sleeve on said shaft, radial arms projecting from said sleeve, brackets pivotally connected within said ring-shaped ribs and having projecting portions terminating adjacent other portions of said ribs, and said brackets'being pivotally connected with said radial arms, said shaft being made from sections universally connected to allow bending intermediate-of said neck. 1

4. A head movement for a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal, comprising a hollow body with a hollow neck having flexible material andconnected with ahead, a plurality ofsubstantially shaped ribs attached within the flexible material of the neck, a rigid shaft extending through the neckand attached at one end upon'the head of theanimal and at the other end being universally supported meansfor universally supporting the last mentioned end of saidshaft, a sleeve on said shaft,

radial arms pro ecting from said sleeve, brackets pivotally connected within said ring-shaped ribs and having projecting. portions terminating adjacent other portions of said ribs, and said brackets being pivotally connected with said radial arms, said shaft being made from sections universally c011- nected to allow neck, and means for holding the sections of the shaft in various. adjusted positions.

I 5. A head movement for a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal, comprising a hollow body with a hollow neck having flexible material and connected with a head,

a plurality of substantially transverse ringshaped ribs attached within theflexible material of the neck, a rigid shaft. extending through the neck and attached atone end upon the head of the animal and at the other end being universally supported, means for universally supporting the last mentionedend of said shaft, a sleeve on said shaft,

radial arms projecting froinsaid sleeve,

bending intermediate of saidv transverse ring I brackets pivotally connected within said ring-shaped ribs and having tionsterminating adjacent other portions of said ribs, and said brackets being pivotally connectedwith said radial being made from sections nected to allow bending intermediate of said neck, and means for holding the sections of the shaft in various adjusted positions, comprising drums connected withthe universal joint between the shaft sections, and means for turning said drums.

j 6. A head movement for. a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal, comprising a hollow body with a hollow neck having flexible material and connected with a head, a plurality of substantially t"ansverse ringshapedribs attached withinthe flexible ma-.

projecting POI".

terial of the neck, a. rigid shaft extending through the neck and attached at one end upon the head of the animal and at the other end being universally supported means for universally supporting the last mentioned end of said shaft, sleeves on said shaft, radial arms projecting from said sleeves, brackets pivotally, connected avithin said ring-shaped ribs and having projecting portions terminatingadjacent other portions. of said ribs, and said brackets being pivotally connected with said radial arms, said shaft being made from sections universally connected to allow bending intermediate of said neck, and means for holding the sections of the shaft invarious adjusted positions, comprising drums connected with the universal joint between the shaft. sections, and means for turning said drums, one of said sleeves being mounted on each of the sections of said shafts, and means for connecting said sleeves forunitary movements.

7. A head movement for a device simulating adinosaur or other animal, comprising a hollow body with a hollow neck having flexible material and connected with a head, a plurality of substantially transverse ringshaped ribs attached within the flexible material of the neck, a rigid shaft extending through the neck and attached at one end upon the head of the animal and at the other end being universally supported, means for universally supporting the last mentioned end of said shaft, a sleeve rotatable on said shaft, radial arms projecting from said sleeve, brackets pivotally connected within said ring-shaped ribs and having projecing portions terminating adjacent other portions of said ribs, and said brackets being pivotally connected with said radial arms, a handle wheel being mounted upon said sleeve forits manual turnin 8. A head movement for a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal, comprising ahollow body with a hollow neck having flexible material and connected with a head, a plurality of substantially transverse ring shaped ribs attached within the flexible material of the neck, a rigid. shaft extending through the neck and attached to one end upon the head of the animal and at the other end being universally supported, means for universally supporting the last mentioned end of said shaft, a sleeve on said shaft, radial arms projecting from said sleeve, brack-l ets pivotally connected within said ringshaped ribs and having projecting portions terminating adjacent other portions of said ribs, and said brackets being pivot-ally connected with said radial arms, said head be.

ing provided with a movable jaw, and means for moving said jaw. i

9. A head movement for a device simulating-a dinosaur or other animal, comprising a hollow body with a: hollow neck having flexible material and connected with a head, ashaft;extending-through the neck and attached' at one end upon the head of the animal, and means for universally. supporting the other end of said shaft, said shaft being T made from sections universally connected to allow bending intermediate of said neck.

10. A head movement for a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal, comprising a hollow body with ahollow neck having flexible material and connected with a head, a shaft extending throughthe neck and at tached at one end upon the head of the animal, and means for'universally supporting the other end of said shaft, said shaft being made from sections universally connected to allow bending intermediate of said neck, and means for holding the sections of the shaft in various adjusted posit-ions.

11., A head movement for a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal, comprising a. hollow body with a hollow neck having a covering of flexible material and connected with a head, ashaft extending through the neck and attached at one end upon the head and universally supported near the other end upon the body, and a counterweight upon the other end of the shaft forcounter-balancing the weight of the head.

12. A head movement for a device simulating a dinosaur or other animal, comprising a. hollow body with a hollow neck hav ing a covering of flexible material and connected with ahead, and a shaft extending through the neck and attached atone end upon the head, and universally supported near the other end upon the body.

'In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. 1 V

' GEORGE H. 'MESSMORE. 

